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(https://www.psypost.org/higher-omega-3-levels-linked-to-lower-risk-of-depression-study-finds/) Higher omega-3 levels linked to lower risk of depression, study finds
Aug 3rd 2024, 10:00

An analysis of genetic data from the UK Biobank and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium has indicated that individuals with higher estimated levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their bodies are less likely to suffer from major depressive disorder. The strongest association with lower depression risk was found for eicosapentaenoic acid, a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid. These findings were published in the journal (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02932-w) Translational Psychiatry.
Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of essential polyunsaturated fats crucial for maintaining overall health. The three main types are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is found in plant oils like flaxseed and chia seeds, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are predominantly found in marine oils such as fish and algae.
These fatty acids are vital for brain function, reducing inflammation, and supporting heart health. Since the human body cannot efficiently synthesize omega-3 fatty acids, they must be obtained through diet or supplements. Studies have linked omega-3 fatty acids to numerous health benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and potentially alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.
While ALA can be converted into other types of omega-3 fatty acids, these processes tend to be variable and relatively inefficient due to competition for metabolic pathways with other fatty acids, most notably omega-6 fatty acids.
Study author Rebecca Carnegie and her colleagues aimed to explore the link between omega-3 fatty acids in the body and recurrent depression, also known as major depressive disorder with recurrent episodes. This mental health condition is characterized by multiple episodes of depression over time, each lasting at least two weeks. These episodes involve persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in appetite or sleep, and difficulties in thinking or concentrating that significantly impair daily functioning.
The researchers conducted a Mendelian randomization study using data from two sources: the UK Biobank, which included 115,078 individuals, and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of major depressive disorder, which included 430,775 individuals, and recurrent depression, which included 80,933 individuals.
They identified genetic variants associated with the metabolism, transport, and synthesis of omega-3 fatty acids in the body and used these variants to estimate the levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Although omega-3 fatty acids are primarily obtained through diet, the efficiency of their utilization and the levels present in the body can be influenced by specific genetic factors.
The study results showed that individuals with higher estimated genetic levels of omega-3 fatty acids had a somewhat lower risk of major depressive disorder. In contrast, genetically elevated levels of omega-6 fatty acids were not associated with an increased risk of major depressive disorder. A similar pattern was observed for recurrent depression: individuals with higher estimated genetic levels of omega-3 fatty acids were less likely to suffer from recurrent depression. The largest effects on these risk reductions were attributed to eicosapentaenoic acid.
“Our results provide evidence for a link between genetically predicted omega-3 fatty acids and MDD [major depressive disorder]. The effect appears strongest for EPA [eicosapentaenoic acid], remains robust to biologically correlated lipids, and is not explained by reverse causality [it is omega-3 fatty acids that affect depression, not depression that affects omega-3 fatty acid levels],” the study authors concluded.
While the study sheds light on the likely role of omega-3 fatty acids in depression, the observed effects were relatively small, indicating that the role of omega-3 fatty acids in the development of depression is likely minor. Additionally, the study’s focus on individuals of European ancestry may limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations. Furthermore, the exact levels of EPA and DHA were not directly measured in all cases, requiring the use of proxy data, which might introduce some inaccuracies. The potential for pleiotropy—where genetic variants influence multiple traits—also complicates the interpretation of causal relationships.
Future research could benefit from integrating genetic data with detailed dietary assessments to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how omega-3 fatty acids influence mental health. Further studies could also explore the differential effects of EPA and DHA on potential mediators, such as inflammation, to strengthen the rationale for high-dose EPA interventions. Given the relatively small effect sizes, future trials might consider targeting participants with suboptimal long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake or high omega-6 to omega-3 ratios to yield greater benefits.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02932-w) Omega-3 fatty acids and major depression: a Mendelian randomization study,” was authored by R. Carnegie, M. C. Borges, H. J. Jones, J. Zheng, P. Haycock, J. Evans, and R. M. Martin.

(https://www.psypost.org/nanoplastics-have-been-found-in-the-human-brain-and-penis-how-worried-should-we-be/) Nanoplastics have been found in the human brain and penis – how worried should we be?
Aug 3rd 2024, 08:00

The world is becoming clogged with plastic. Particles of plastic so tiny they cannot be seen with the naked eye have been found almost everywhere, (https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/microplastics-plastic-ocean-mediterranean-sea-b2255982.html) from the oceans’ depths to the (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/20/microplastic-pollution-found-near-summit-of-mount-everest) mountain tops. They are in the soil, in plants, in animals and they are inside us. The question is: what harm, if any, are they causing?
When plastic trash is dumped in a landfill or the sea, it breaks down, very slowly. Sunlight and waves cause the surface of the plastic to become brittle, and particles are shed into the environment. Collectively known as “small plastic particles”, they range in size from five millimetres or smaller (microplastics) to less than one-thousandth of a millimetre (nanoplastics). The smallest can only be detected with special scientific instruments.
It remains unclear how microplastics and nanoplastics get inside living things, but several entry points have been suggested. For example, they might pass through the gut from food or drink contaminated with small plastic particles. Or they may be breathed in, or absorbed through the skin.
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38744045/) Our research suggests that, for some animals at least, nanoplastics are bad news. We injected plastic nanoparticles into chicken embryos. We found that the particles travelled quickly in the blood to all tissues, especially the heart, liver and kidneys. They were also excreted by the embryonic kidneys.
We noticed, too, that plastic nanoparticles tend to stick to a certain type of stem cell in the embryo. These cells are essential for the normal development of the nervous system and other structures. Any damage to stem cells could put the development of the embryo in jeopardy.
We suspect that the chicken embryo stem cells have substances on their surface, called “cell-adhesion molecules”, which stick to the polystyrene nanoparticles that we used. We are following up this finding, because when nanoplastics stick to cells and get inside them, they can cause (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34087085/) cell death and even (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36907039/) serious birth defects in chickens and mice.
Similar studies cannot, of course, be carried out on people, so it is not yet possible to say what the implications of our animal research are for humans. What we do know is that nanoplastics are found in the (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022001258) blood of human beings, in other bodily fluids and several major organs and key body tissues.
In recent years, microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in the (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11100893/) brains, (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37440474/) hearts and (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34492918/) lungs of humans. They have been discovered in the (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38446676/) arteries of people with arterial disease, suggesting they may be a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease. And they have been detected in (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35808745/) breast milk, the (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33395930/) placenta and, most recently, (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-024-00930-6) penises.
Chinese researchers reported earlier this year that they had found microplastics in human and dog (https://academic.oup.com/toxsci/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/toxsci/kfae060/7673133) testes. More recently, another Chinese team found microplastics in all 40 samples of (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38802004/) human semen they tested. This follows an (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723045473) Italian study that found microplastics in six out of ten samples of human semen.
Our fear is that microplastics and nanoplastics might act in a similar way to deadly asbestos fibres. Like asbestos, they are not broken down in the body and can be taken up into cells, killing them and then being released to damage yet more cells.
Reassuring, for now
But there is a need for caution here. There is no evidence that nanoplastics can cross the placenta and get into the human embryo.
Also, even if nanoplastics do cross the placenta, and in sufficient numbers to damage the embryo, we would expect to have seen a big increase in abnormal pregnancies in recent years. That is because the problem of plastic waste in the environment has been growing enormously over the years. But we are not aware of any evidence of a corresponding, large increase in birth defects or miscarriages.
That, for now, is reassuring.
It may be that microplastics and nanoplastics, if they do cause harm to our bodies, do so in a subtle way that we have not yet detected. Whatever the case, scientists are working hard to discover what the risks might be.
One promising avenue of research would involve the use of human placental tissue grown in the laboratory. Special (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38019403/) artificial placenta tissues, called “trophoblast organoids”, have been developed for studying how harmful substances cross the placenta.
Researchers are also investigating potentially beneficial uses for nanoplastics. Although they are not yet licensed for clinical use, the idea is that they could be used to (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35862544/) deliver drugs to specific body tissues that need them. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34866166/) Cancer cells could, in this way, be targeted for destruction without damaging other healthy tissue.
Whatever the outcome of nanoplastics research, we and many other scientists will continue trying to find out what nanoplastics are doing to ourselves and the environment.
 
This article is republished from (https://theconversation.com) The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the (https://theconversation.com/microplastics-and-nanoplastics-have-been-found-throughout-the-human-body-how-worried-should-we-be-231974) original article.

(https://www.psypost.org/grandiose-fantasizing-appears-to-serve-a-vital-psychological-function-for-narcissists/) Grandiose fantasizing appears to serve a vital psychological function for narcissists
Aug 3rd 2024, 06:00

Recent research published in (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1274545) Frontiers in Psychiatry has shed new light on the psychological mechanisms underpinning pathological narcissism. The study found that individuals with higher levels of narcissism are more likely to engage in grandiose fantasizing—a form of daydreaming about success, power, or beauty—to regulate their emotions and bolster their self-esteem.
Pathological narcissism is characterized by an intense, often unstable sense of self-importance. While much of the existing research has focused on how narcissists seek validation from others to maintain their inflated self-view, less is known about how they internally regulate their emotions and self-esteem. The new study aimed to fill that gap by exploring whether grandiose fantasizing serves as an effective internal coping mechanism for those with high levels of narcissism, particularly following negative emotional experiences.
The researchers recruited 193 participants through Prolific, an online research platform. To participate, individuals had to be between 18 and 40 years old, fluent in English, and free of long-term health conditions or disabilities.
Once selected, participants underwent a series of assessments to measure their levels of narcissism, self-esteem, and emotional states. The researchers used well-established questionnaires, including the Five Factor Narcissism Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale. These tools provided baseline data on each participant’s psychological profile.
Participants were then randomly assigned to either a negative mood induction task or a neutral filler task. Those in the negative mood induction group were asked to recall and write about a personal failure for three minutes. This task was designed to lower their mood and self-esteem temporarily. Meanwhile, the filler task involved writing down objects in the room for three minutes, serving as a neutral activity that would not affect their mood.
Following this, participants engaged in a future thinking task. They were given a choice to write about a future event that would make them feel good, selecting from words associated with either positive affect (such as “enthusiastic” or “inspired”) or grandiose traits (such as “extraordinary” or “powerful”). They wrote about their chosen future event for three minutes.
To further understand the characteristics of the future events described, the researchers recruited an additional 128 participants to rate the plausibility, ambitiousness, and emotional tone of the writings. These external ratings provided qualitative insights into the nature of grandiose versus positive future thinking.
The researchers found that individuals with higher levels of narcissism were significantly more likely to choose grandiose words and engage in grandiose fantasizing compared to those with lower levels of narcissism. This suggests a preference for grandiose fantasizing among those with elevated narcissistic traits.
Moreover, the effectiveness of grandiose fantasizing as an emotional regulation tool was highlighted. Participants who engaged in grandiose fantasizing reported larger decreases in negative affect and greater increases in positive affect compared to those who wrote about general positive future events. This effect was particularly pronounced for individuals with higher levels of narcissism, suggesting that grandiose fantasizing is a more effective method of mood regulation for them.
Additionally, the qualitative analysis of the future events revealed distinct characteristics of grandiose fantasizing. Grandiose future events were rated as more ambitious, less plausible, more agentic (indicating that the person felt in control of the event), and having a more negative emotional tone compared to positive future events. This supports the idea that grandiose fantasizing involves envisioning highly ambitious, though often unrealistic, future scenarios.
These findings provide empirical support for the theory that grandiose fantasizing is not just a general tendency in pathological narcissism but serves a functional role in regulating emotions.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that that people scoring high in narcissism are more likely to choose to engage in grandiose fantasizing to make themselves feel better,” the researchers conclude. “We also believe that this is the first study to demonstrate that grandiose fantasizing is a more efficacious affect regulator for people scoring high in narcissism than people scoring low in narcissism.”
“This work provides empirical support for an oft-cited theory that grandiose fantasizing is regulatory and should increase confidence in the idea that grandiose fantasizing is not just a general tendency in pathological narcissism, but rather serves a functional (and potentially adaptive) role. It also highlights the specificity of this function for people scoring higher in narcissism and suggests that affect may be a variable that warrants increased consideration in future research. Although we provide evidence supporting the short-term benefits of grandiose fantasizing, future work would do well to also consider its longer-term consequences.”
The study, “(https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1274545/full) Functional fantasies: the regulatory role of grandiose fantasizing in pathological narcissism,” was authored by Ellen F. Finch and Jill M. Hooley.

(https://www.psypost.org/classical-music-boosts-language-recovery-and-brain-connectivity-in-stroke-survivors/) Classical music boosts language recovery and brain connectivity in stroke survivors
Aug 2nd 2024, 12:00

Listening to classical music could help stroke survivors recover language skills and increase brain connectivity, according to a new study published in the (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2024.101825) Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.
Stroke-induced aphasia, a condition that impairs language abilities (e.g. speaking, writing, reading, or understanding), is a significant cause of disability worldwide. Traditional views held that these cognitive deficits were due to localized brain damage. However, recent research highlights the role of disrupted neural networks in the brain.
Led by Maryane Chea, researchers at the Paris Brain Institute in Sorbonne University, France, were intrigued by the potential of music therapy to aid recovery.
Previous studies have shown that music can enhance cognitive functions after a stroke, potentially through enhancement of brain connectivity. Hence, the team aimed to explore whether listening to classical music could improve language abilities and brain connectivity in stroke survivors.
The study involved four right-handed patients (1 female and 3 male) who had experienced strokes in the left hemisphere of their brains. These patients were aged on average 58 years old, and were randomized to one of two conditions, both of which lasted for 4 weeks.
In the first condition, the participants listened to classical music by composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven for 2 hours daily, for 2 weeks. This was in addition to their standard care. Upon reaching 2 weeks, participants were switched to only receive standard care.
In the second condition this order was reversed, where participants received two weeks of standard care, followed by two weeks of combined standard care and listening to classical music.
Patients underwent cognitive and neuroimaging assessments at multiple points during the study. The researchers utilized language tests, as well as employed advanced imaging techniques (EEG and MRI) to evaluate changes in brain connectivity.
The results were promising. The stroke-induced aphasia patients demonstrated improvements in language test scores after the music therapy sessions, compared to when receiving standard therapy.
EEG measurements also indicated enhanced functional brain connectivity, allowing more complex information to be transmitted throughout the brain.
Only one participant completed the full MRI follow-up, and they demonstrated increased connectivity in several brain regions after music therapy. This included the corpus callosum, the brain matter which connects the two hemispheres.
The researchers explained the benefit of their study design, “in terms of feasibility, our music-assisted intervention was a relatively inexpensive and non-tiring treatment that was well-received by all participants, even though no-one had prior musical training. Using a limited selection of classical music did not hinder their adherence to the therapy protocol. The cumulative duration of music sessions in this study was 20 [hours], within the range of previous music assisted rehabilitation studies.”
However, the study had limitations. The small sample size and patient heterogeneity mean that the findings are preliminary. Additionally, the evaluations were not blind to the treatment conditions. Future studies with larger, more diverse samples and blind evaluations are needed to confirm these findings.
The study, “(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877065724000095?via%3Dihub) Listening to classical music influences brain connectivity in post-stroke aphasia: a pilot study,” was authored by Maryane Chea, Amina Ben Salah, Monica N. Toba, Ryan Zeineldin, Brigitte Kaufmann, Agnès Weill-Chounlamountry, Lionel Naccache, Eléonore Bayen, and Paolo Bartolomeo.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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